[Gamasutra] Blizzard considers Aion a competitive threat - Overclock.net

Furai · 07-02-09

Quote:

Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey says that despite the promise of holiday success for games like DJ Hero and Tony Hawk: Ride, Activision's year end could see some snags -- chief among them the increasing likelihood that Starcraft II won't make this calendar year.

Although Blizzard's not yet pinned a specific release date for the game, it's maintained a 2009 window. But Starcraft II lead designer recently told consumer weblog Kotaku that the team plans to have a beta that will last "four to six months," leading Hickey to conclude: "We find it increasingly probably that the game will be released in [Activision's] fiscal '10 period."

Hickey also called CEO Bobby Kotick's recent warnings that Activision could withdraw PlayStation 3 support by 2011 with no price cut "likely a realistic reaction to a near term breakdown in market growth."

If hardware pricing stays high, Hickey says, it "could eventually compromise holiday sales expectations."

"While we expect price cuts from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo before the holiday, the ultimate timing and magnitude remain uncertain," he adds.

According to Hickey, other areas of caution are a recent boost in Activision insiders selling shares -- "impossible to ignore," he says -- and increasing challenges for World of Warcraft.

The analyst says that although the number of WoW players in China is higher, the average revenue per user is lower due to the specific business model -- and downtime in the transition from operator The9 to rival Netease could cause the player base to take a hit, even though the migration will mean higher royalties in the end.

"We view looming competition in the West from new MMORPGs as a greater threat to WoW’s future then the current transition," he adds, including NCsoft's September launch of Aion as a possible competitive threat.

Source

Banedox · 07-02-09

Nice nice, Good Blizzard See competition

Nuxes · 07-02-09

Yeah, Aion will be a threat just like Hellgate, LOtRO, Warhammer, AoC, Vanguard, Guild Wars, D&DO........

jacksknight · 07-02-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuxes

Yeah, Aion will be a threat just like Hellgate, LOtRO, Warhammer, AoC, Vanguard, Guild Wars, D&DO........

Aion is much better than any of the games you mentioned. I think it already has close to 4 million subscribers. I love my warcraft but this game is just awesome, im sure ill be transferring over as soon as release hits the US.

Opeth07 · 07-02-09

I dont think anything will really rival WOW or kill it unless blizzard does it themselves. And with the recent changes they're doing just that.

Dezixn · 07-02-09

SC2 better come out this year. I'm so waiting outside of gamestop for a midnight release lol. There better b one

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksknight

Aion is much better than any of the games you mentioned. I think it already has close to 4 million subscribers. I love my warcraft but this game is just awesome, im sure ill be transferring over as soon as release hits the US.

I've never heard of it, and I tend to keep up with these things...

Oh wait that's the uber graphics mmo. I don't see it going any further than vanguard or AoC tbh.

LuckySe7ens · 07-02-09

hopefully its better at launch then AoC was. That game looked spectacular (and combat was great) but gameplay was half a**ed.

noobpower2 · 07-02-09

how about we not jump to conclusions as to competition. i last recalled none of you guys have yet to experience aion

. unless you guys are korean

Opeth07 · 07-02-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by noobpower2

how about we not jump to conclusions as to competition. i last recalled none of you guys have yet to experience aion

. unless you guys are korean

Theres been a couple beta weekends or w/e already. Plus people can pre order at gamestop and get in. It's gonna be popular in asian countries mostly.

jacksknight · 07-02-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opeth07

Theres been a couple beta weekends or w/e already. Plus people can pre order at gamestop and get in. It's gonna be popular in asian countries mostly.

Yeah cause only Asians play MMOs, noone else really does.

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[Gamasutra] Blizzard considers Aion a competitive threat

07-02-09	#8 (permalink)
noobpower2 New to Overclock.net Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 143 Rep: 8 Unique Rep: 7 Trader Rating: 0	how about we not jump to conclusions as to competition. i last recalled none of you guys have yet to experience aion . unless you guys are korean

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